The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble’s energetic and powerful live sets are a sight to behold, featuring an 18-piece horn section, five cellists, seven percussionists and five electric guitarists, plus fiddles, flutes, clarinets, euphonium, and accordions! They also all sing too.

Though rooted in traditional folk tunes, the personal influences of each individual member steers the set, pulling in everything from full-on rock grooves, to funk, jazz, hip-hop and reggae, to sounds from Eastern Europe and Asia. It’s a sound they’ve dubbed ‘Power Folk.’

Formed in 1997 by fiddle player, arranger and tutor Joe Broughton, The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble have played dozens of major music festivals, released four lauded albums, established their own annual mini-festival, packed out the Royal Albert Hall, become an online sensation, and provided the launch pad for countless other acts and collaborations.

• Folk
• Alternative
• Classical